Rock hard hotel: forget backstage—M & F captured these finely tuned divas where they sleep

Muscle & Fitness, August, 2004 by Jeff O'Connell

ABBY GENNET

A prom queen and cheerleader who wore blue nail polish, Abby Gennet still has the same mixture of ethereal beauty (think Kate Hudson) and punk hellfire (think Chrissie Hynde). The latter, who went from penning magazine critiques of rock stars to being one, is the closest analogue for Abby. She has reported on music as a VJ for MTV and MTV2 and then VH1 while fronting the New York City-based band SLUNT, which just signed an indie deal. "A hobby gone wild," she calls it.

Indeed. Abby's mother is a financial planner, and her father works in the furniture trade, but the apple didn't just fall far from the tree, it landed in another orchard. And her rock 'n' roll dreams were realized through almost ridiculous serendipity. An interest in photography led her to a seminar given by Mark Seliger, a Rolling Stone lensman, who then hired her to manage his studio, encouraging her to pursue her own work in between clients. While bartending to make ends meet, Abby was handed a lead by a club booker that landed her on MTV2. That's how it always happens, right?

Did you really compete in a bodybuilding show In high school?

We had a contest called Mr. and Mrs. NMB [North Miami Beach]. I really got into working out and taking care of my body. I was in the gym every day.

What prompted you to pick up weights?

For me, it's always good to have a goal in mind when I want to get in shape, like bikini season. Living in Miami, you're always wearing as few clothes as possible, so it's good to be in shape.

We also had a great gym coach. I owe it all to Coach Ruland [laughs]! I actually went back to my high school a couple of months ago, and he's still there.

What did you tell the kids?

"Listen, if you want to be the next 50 Cent--well, if you're sitting around on your couch rapping, no one's going to hear you. Make your tape, get out there and intern at a record company. If you want to be a producer, go over and sweep the floors for free if you have to. Eventually you'll work your way up to engineer."

My whole philosophy in life [amounts to] throwing a bunch of s--t up on the wall and seeing what sticks. But for the kids I used "spaghetti."

Describe the SLUNT sound.

People always ask me who we sound like, but I hate comparing us to other groups, especially since there aren't a lot of female-fronted rock bands out there right now. But the best way to describe our sound is "New York City trash rock"--sexy, catchy tunes you can crank up loud and bang your head to.

What's next for the band now that you've signed your deal?

We're heading back into the studio this month to finish our album. We should have it done by the end of the summer, and then we're going on tour. I won't have my gym nearby, but lugging my amp around should burn some calories [laughs]. And I'll get plenty of cardio rockin' out every night onstage.

When your body is hard and cut, do you kind of revel in the power that gives you onstage?

When I'm in good shape, I definitely dress a lot skimpier onstage [laughs]. But whether it's rockin' out onstage or walking down the street, when you're in good shape, you definitely carry yourself differently. Confidence is sexy.

What does your mom think of your career to date?

Certain things she'll roll her eyes at and give me that Oh, Abby look [laughs], but she knows I'm not going to cross that line and compromise my integrity. I'll get onstage wearing really skimpy clothing and roll around and get crazy, but, you know, it's fun. It's rock 'n' roll.

ABBY DATA

SPECS 5'5", 115 POUNDS

AGE "I'M AS OLD AS THE BOYS I DATE"

EXERCISE FREE WEIGHTS & MACHINES, TREADMILL (20-30 MINUTES)

FAVORITE ROAD FOOD TURKEY SANDWICH.

WEB SLUNT.NET

DJ RAP

Guitarists' fingers are notoriously blistered, but turntables and vinyl have been noticeably kinder to the digits of Charissa Saverio, aka DJ Rap.

Slender and tanned, they're hand-model perfect--not to mention dexterous enough to have made her the queen DJ of drum-and-bass and other forms of electronica. She also produces her own recordings and owns a small record label.

How fitting that a woman of Malaysian-Irish-Italian descent mixes now. The globe-hopping of a DJ's life is an extension of Charissa's similarly nomadic childhood: The daughter of a hotelier, she grew up living in luxury. Her worldly inquisitiveness comes through not only in the club but also in her conversation, which can veer from FBI profilers and serial killers to biological warfare. To keep fit while touring, she practices the martial art ninjitsu, jogs and eats "superhealthy" because she's "permanently hungry."

Did you enjoy growing up in these palatial hotels in far--off lands?

For a kid, it's a weird experience. There were no other children. It was very much adults and hotel guests and learning how to eat properly. Dinnertime meant going down to the main ballroom, where I'd play piano in front of everybody, which I think sucks for a kid. I was very lonely. I got the hell out of that life as soon as I could, when I was 14.

Most people have a vague sense of what techno is, but what's drum-and-bass?